Falling Into Ruin.

Just A Name

[Briar’s POV]

“Ciaran.”

The name rolls off my tongue easily and smoothly as if it is a name that I’ve been using all my life.

“Ciaran,” I repeat, digging my nails into his broad shoulders. “That’s it, Ciaran.”

“Good girl,” he rumbles, strengthening his thrusts so his monster of a c**k hits my deepest of places.

Shit, it feels good, so much better than I could even imagine. How was it that one person could make me feel like I was fading into oblivion like him? Was it because we were practically strangers? Was it because we could be caught at any second since we were in a car? Or was there something else between us? Something so much deeper than mere emotion?

“More,” Ciaran growls, snapping me out of my head. “Scream my name, little mate.”

Little mate.

This wasn’t the first time he called me such a thing, but it didn’t make sense. However, that didn’t matter and was something I could think about later. For now, all I wanted to do was get lost in the pure bliss I was feeling from being f****d by this dangerous and powerful man.

“Ciaran,” I moan, tightening my legs around him, holding myself in place so that he can f**k me with all his might.

I don’t know how long we’re like that, our bodies wrapped together, our moans and groans of passion filling the tight space around us, and our hot breath steaming the windows so that no one can mistake what it is that we are doing. All I know is that by the time it all ends, I’m too exhausted to move and feel myself drifting in and out of consciousness.

During my haze, I feel like my body is floating, or maybe it is being carried. I’m not sure, but when it touches something soft and is wrapped in warmth, I can no longer hold on, and I’m drifting.

Later, I wake up in what looks like an office. I’m lying on a couch with a blanket wrapped around me, but there is no sign of the one responsible for bringing me here.

Sighing, I sit up, letting the blanket fall down my body so that I find I’m not wearing my own clothes. Instead, I’m wearing what I’m certain is Ciaran’s shirt. How could it not be when his delicious scent of smoke and musk was radiating from it, wrapping around me like he was here with me right now?

Swiping my loose hair away, I look around half expecting to find the man in question hidden somewhere, but I’m utterly alone.

“Figures,” I smirk, feeling a bit disappointed. “f**k me and leave me.”

Of course, that was the way it should be since we weren’t acquainted. Hell, I only knew his name and nothing more, and he knew even less about me. It was best that I forget about him and take these beautiful memories of the pleasure he gave me to the grave with me.

“Could have at least treated me to breakfast.” I grumble, getting up and giving a stretch that I immediately regret due to the pain that shoots through my body. “f**k, he really did a number on me.”

Silently cursing the bastard called Ciaran, I head out of the room I’m in and find that it is attached to the pub that I visited with Miles.

“s**t!” I gasp, realizing too late that I left the man in question without a single word. “Miles!”

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I prepare to call and let Miles know that I was alright, but I’m met with a single message.

Already went home. See you at the office.

It’s all that is there, and it’s like he doesn’t give a s**t at all about what happened, which, I guess, is a good thing, but it still bothers me a bit.

“You could worry a bit.” I huff, shoving my phone back into my pocket and heading toward the pub's exit only to be stopped by a woman with curly brown hair and a friendly face heading in.

“Oh!” She gasps, taking me in. “You’re up.”

As she speaks, her lips twitch into a smile revealing a few wrinkles and crow's feet around her silvery eyes.

“I hope you weren’t too shocked.”

“Of course not.” I respond, wondering who she was. “Sorry, but who…”

“Oh, dear me!” She laughs, her smile broadening. “I’m Amelia; I own this place.”

Nodding, I take in what she is saying while wondering if she was the one who brought me to that office, but deep down I know it was that gorgeous bastard Ciaran who did it.

“Ciaran said that you had one too many.” She explains, naming the very man in question. “So, I thought it was best that I let you rest until you were sober.”

“Is that so?” I ask, my annoyance growing. “Then I should thank you and apologize for the inconvenience.”

“No worries at all,” she chuckles. “Any friend of Ciaran’s is a friend of mine, but imagine my surprise when he appeared carrying a woman.”

Isn’t that normal with someone like him? I think inwardly, kind of surprised by her reaction. From how he acts, it is clear that he knows his way around women.

“You see,” Amelia continues, taking my silence as a go-ahead to keep speaking. “He’s quite indifferent toward women, so to see him helping was a bit…”

“Sorry,” I say quickly, feeling a bit strange about the direction the conversation is going. “But I should really get going before I’m late for work.”

From just out the door, I could see the sun was already up, which meant that I was most likely late for my shift. I should have probably checked the time on my phone, but I was just so damn discombobulated from everything I didn’t think about it.

“Oh, of course!” Amelia gasps. “I’m so sorry for holding you dear!”

“It’s okay,” I smile. “And again, please, if there is any way I can repay your kindness, let me know.”

“Well,” she says slowly, a serious look forming in her eyes. “If you could continue to be friends with Ciaran, that would be more than enough.”

“That’s it?” I ask, shock rushing through me. “Don’t you think that’s just a bit…”

“I know it sounds strange.” She continues. “But that boy has been through it, and he could use as many people as he can on his team.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I murmur, once again feeling that odd draw for the man who I would probably never see again. “But I think the choice of whether or not we stay close is up to him.”

“That’s true.” She sighs, shaking her head. “He’s such a hard ass, but once you get past that tough exterior, you’ll find that he’s actually very caring and protective, especially for those he cherishes.”

“You seem to care quite a bit about him.” I point out, unable to stop my curiosity about her connection with him. “Is he…”

“I raised him since he was a pup.” She giggles, her blue eyes flashing.

“Raised him,” I repeat, my eyes widening. “But you look like you’re not that old at all.”

“I hear that a lot.” She smiles. “And it always makes this old woman feel good.”

Pup. Old woman. What on earth was this woman on about? Was she just as crazy as Ciaran?

I don’t have long to think about it before my phone is ringing, and I know for certain that I’m definitely running late for my first day of work.

“Sorry!” I say, beginning to move. “I’ve really gotta go, but I’ll keep what you’ve said in mind.”

“Thank you, Briar!” She calls, taking me by surprise, but as I turn to ask how she knows my name, she’s already gone, and I don’t have the time to find her.